There is a new sweetener on the market called Allulose. This sweetener reportedly taste like sugar, have the texture of sugar, but is super low in calories and carbs. There are even word that this sweetener could be loaded with health benefits. But here we need to ask what is the safety points of this item and how will it impact us in the long-term?
This article will investigate Allulose and its impact on a healthy diet.
What Is Allulose?
Allulose, or D-psicose, is classified as a rare sugar since it is naturally present in only a few foods like wheat, raisins and figs and raisins. Just like glucose and fructose, allulose is a monosaccharide, or single sugar. Table sugar or sucrose, in contrast is a disaccharide made of glucose and fructose joined together. Still, allulose has the same chemical formula as fructose, but organized in a different way. This difference in structure avoids your body from processing allulose the in the same manner it processes fructose.
Allulose does not raise blood sugar or insulin levels. Plus, it provides only 0.2–0.4 calories per gram, or about 1/10 the calories of table sugar. And, allulose has anti-inflammatory properties, and may help prevent obesity and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
More so, the texture and taste of this sweetener is very similar to normal sugar. It is about 70 percent as sweet as sugar, which is alike to the sweetness of the sweetener erythritol.
Allulose could help to control blood sugar levels
Allulose could be a powerful tool for managing diabetes. In fact it could lower blood sugar, increase insulin sensitivity and decreases the risk of type 2 diabetes by protecting the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Therefore, if the pilot studies are correct, then allulose could be good for blood sugar regulation in humans.
This sweetener could boost fat loss
Research has indicated that allulose may also help boost fat loss. This includes unhealthy belly fat, also known as visceral fat, which is strongly linked to heart disease and other health diseases. Still, it is vital to note that, just as allulose, erythritol provides virtually no calories and does not raise blood sugar or insulin levels. But allulose had more benefits than erythritol. As allulose couldlead to less belly fat than taking erythritol or sucrose.
Nonetheless allulose is a brand new sweetener, its effects on weight and fat loss in humans aren’t known because they haven’t been studied properly as yet. Still, the pilot studies are showing lower blood sugar and insulin levels in people who took allulose, it seems as though it may help with weight loss as well.
Allulose could help to protect against a fatty liver
Pilot studies have indicated that allulose seems to reduce fat storage in the liver. In fact, hepatic steatosis, more commonly known as fatty liver, is strongly linked to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Plus, allulose may promote fat loss in the liver and body, it may also protect against muscle loss.
In short, is this sweetener safe?
Allulose seems to be a safe sweetener. In fact, this sweetener has been added to the list of foods generally recognized as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration, but it is still banned in Europe.
Pilot studies have shown that there are no toxicity or other health concerns linked to this sweetener. But as with any food item there might be individual sensitivities.
Now, should anyone use this sweetener?
The sweetener, Allulose seems to provide a taste and texture remarkably similar to sugar, while providing minimal calories. Although right now there are only a few high-quality human studies on the effects of allulose, it appears to be safe when consumed in moderation. However, more studies in humans are on the way. Several studies are either recruiting, underway or have been completed but not yet published.
This sweetener is not available freely, but you can get the granulated allulose by buying it online, but it is quite expensive.
Still, there are some health benefits linked to this new sweetener. Therefore, based on the fact that it is rather pricey, it would then be best to use this sweetener allulose occasionally or alongside less expensive sweeteners to help to make it slightly more economical and to still get its health benefits.
